Form Factor

• Form factorcomputer mainboard image by starush from Fotolia.com
  
  A form factor describes the specifications on the shape, size and configuration of a computer hardware component such as a motherboard, power supply or case. The standard form factor is the ATX, or Advanced Technology Extended. Intel designed it in the 1990's.
  
  The dimensions of the ATX form factor are 12 by 9.6 inches, or 305 by 244 mm. The size dictates the size of the case that can be used. If the case is too small, the motherboard will not fit. If it is too big, the motherboard may not attach properly to the sockets.
  
  

The CPU

• CPUcpu image by Aleksandr Lukin from Fotolia.com
  
  If the computer has a brain, it is in the form of the CPU. It is a microprocessor, and it is an integrated circuit made of transistors, but other devices also are crucial. Principally, the CPU cannot act alone. It must have data.
  
  The CPU has five main components. These are the control unit, the arithmetic/logic unit, registers, cache memory and buses. Each device performs in a manner that will process or provide information in the form of bits---1s and 0s---to the CPU.
  
  

Architecture

• Computercomputer image by michele goglio from Fotolia.com
  
  The architecture of the motherboard helps identify it for different uses.
  
  Business or engineering motherboard architecture is defined by the size of memory and the number of redundant hard drives that it supports. These operations are processor intensive and also have backup systems and redundancy in place.
  
  Gaming computers, on the other hand, need very quick interaction with a user. These have high memory needs and a powerful processor, but redundancy is not needed. They will have several high-end input/output cards.
  
  Finally, personal or home computers will have a modest motherboard architecture. The hard drives and memory will be enough to do basic, but not sophisticated, operations.
  
  

Chipset

• Ports and connectorscomputer ports image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com
  
  The motherboard chipset's primary function is to direct the data to the correct areas on the motherboard and to the correct components. The chipset controls the data as it flows through the channels or buses of the motherboard.
  
  

Supporting Devices

• Chipsetview of part of electronic image by Mirek Hejnicki from Fotolia.com
  
  The motherboard design will specify how many devices can be attached to it. The amount of RAM, the number of control cards, including the audio, video and network cards, and the hard drive will be under the control of the number of slots available on the motherboard.
  
  The motherboard also has sockets, plugs, connectors and ports. The sockets are for speakers and microphones. The plugs are for input and output devices. The connectors are for power and internal and external hard drives. The ports are to attach serial or parallel devices, like modems and printers.